Shadow Lake Vampire Society - Wendi Wilson Page 0,43
a lion, his green eyes like those on night vision cameras. He’d just burst in, moving with preternatural speed, offering to explain, but what kind of explanation could account for all the weirdness of Camp Shadow Lake?
After what I’d seen and heard, I should have wanted to tear for the hills, but instead I turned toward the boy who seemed to hate me and care about me at the same time.
“What do you mean you can explain?” I uttered.
He blinked. Swallowed. “Everything. I can explain everything. But not here. It’s not safe.” He looked toward the cabin only two dozen yards away. Sarah’s cabin. “You need to come with me. Now.”
True’s hand found mine. “I don’t think—”
“Where? The bunker?” I said, my words falling on top of hers.
She squeezed my hand hard, but didn’t disagree. I had a feeling she wanted to see where this rabbit hole went nearly as much as I did.
Levi remained tense and motionless in the slice of moonlight. “We don’t have to go to the bunker, but we can’t stay here. I need you to decide now.” He kept glancing at the cabin as if keeping watch. What would happen if Sarah heard us? Judging from Levi’s posture, nothing good.
“Okay, I’ll go.” I stood and looked at True. She adopted an expression that could best be described as Are-you-crazy? before she stood, as well.
“Just let me get my bear spray and a bra, for God’s sake.”
Silently, she turned and slunk into the cabin while I stayed on the steps. My attention traveled back to Levi as a tingle of fear and excitement ran over my skin. This was dangerous. He was dangerous, but every inch of me longed to move closer. To shorten the distance between us.
He shifted his focus from the cabin to me, scanning the length of my body. It gave an involuntary shiver, one that I tried to hide by swatting at an imaginary mosquito.
“Are you sure you can handle this?” he asked in a low growl.
“Yes. I told you I can.”
His brow furrowed, but he didn’t disagree. Maybe we were making progress in that area. Despite the fainting, I wanted him to know I wasn’t some delicate flower.
True reappeared, holding up the can of bear spray just to remind Levi of its existence. With his nod of acceptance, we followed him down the path and across campus.
“Where do you think he’s taking us?” True whispered, hanging close to me. “If the dean finds out we left the kids unattended, our asses are toast.”
Levi’s head swiveled back, hearing True even though she’d whispered right in my ear. “I’ve sent someone to watch Saka’am. The children are safe. You don’t need to worry.”
True’s eyes popped wide as if to say, Can you believe this? Meanwhile, I wondered who was watching our cabin. Levi didn’t seem close to any of the other counselors, only Dean Purty and Sasha Ali. Perhaps it was the lovely Sasha who now stood in the dark guarding our cabin. Either way, it hinted that this was more than Levi acting on his own.
Just how deep did this rabbit hole go? We were about to find out.
The camp was dark, but not quiet. Lights Out had been over an hour ago, so, while the human voices had faded, the frogs picked up the slack with a chorus of shrill peeps that echoed loudly from the direction of the lake.
We walked past the stables, the volleyball court, and mess hall, past the silent fire ring with curls of smoke still trailing from the spent blaze. Quickly, I scanned my mental camp map, realizing that he was heading to the far-east section of campus. The bunker was northwest, so at least he was keeping his promise. I was secretly thankful we wouldn’t be cramped underground. I refused to faint again. If I did, I was sure Levi would insist I’d be sent home
Our silent leader kept walking. The gravel path turned into a dirt one that shriveled into a footpath in the unmowed field. Once again, he was taking us away from civilization, away from anyone who might help us. Were we stupid? Probably. But he’d saved me on more than one occasion. Plus, at this rate, the camp itself might be more dangerous than the outskirts.
But what if there were bears out here?
I shivered. True gave my hand another squeeze.
Ahead, large wooden structures came into view—giant telephone poles with platforms at various levels and ropes in between. A large net stretched